Kudzu root
Kudzu root suppliers and sourcing guide
Kudzu root is the root of Pueraria montana var. lobata, a climbing legume native to East Asia. The root is sliced and dried for traditional use, processed into a starch used in Japanese and Chinese cooking, or extracted with water or ethanol and standardized to isoflavones, mainly puerarin, by HPLC. Starch and extract are distinct products with different specs and regulatory positions.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Pueraria montana var. lobata · Pueraria lobata · ge gen · Radix Puerariae Lobatae
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of kudzu root
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dried root slices and powder
Sliced, dried root or milled root powder, not standardized.
Kudzu starch
Starch washed out of the crushed root and dried, used as a food thickener; often blended with other starches, so purity belongs on the spec.
Standardized extract
Water or ethanol extract standardized to puerarin or total isoflavones by HPLC.
Organic
Root, starch or extract from certified organic sources, with the certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity (HPTLC)
- Fingerprint against a Pueraria lobata root reference, to rule out related species such as Pueraria thomsonii or Pueraria mirifica.
- Puerarin / isoflavone assay (HPLC)
- Puerarin and total isoflavones by a named HPLC method for extracts.
- Starch purity
- For kudzu starch, starch content and a check for undeclared sweet potato or other starches.
- Residual solvents
- For extracts made with ethanol or other solvents, residual solvent levels against USP <467> or the buyer's spec.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and Prop 65 exposure targets where relevant.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw herb powders carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated, which should be stated on the COA.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
Lots and expiry dates
Isoflavone content varies with root age and source species, and starch lots can be blended, so check identity and assay on every lot. Record the supplier lot, product type (root, starch or extract), extraction solvent and retest date.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists Pueraria montana var. lobata (Ge gen) under the pharmacopoeial name Radix Puerariae Lobatae.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Pueraria montana var. lobata (POL-NF-00636) states that starch from the root is not novel in foods and that alcohol extracts require novel food authorisation.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)The same entry lists aqueous extracts of kudzu flowers, leaves and roots as not novel in food supplements.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Kudzu root suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking kudzu root suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell kudzu root? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of kudzu root can brands buy?
Common forms include dried root slices and powder, kudzu starch, standardized extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for kudzu root include?
Expect identity (HPTLC), puerarin / isoflavone assay (HPLC), starch purity, residual solvents, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should kudzu root be stored?
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
What is the regulatory status of kudzu root?
Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists Pueraria montana var. lobata (Ge gen) under the pharmacopoeial name Radix Puerariae Lobatae. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Pueraria montana var. lobata (POL-NF-00636) states that starch from the root is not novel in foods and that alcohol extracts require novel food authorisation. The same entry lists aqueous extracts of kudzu flowers, leaves and roots as not novel in food supplements.
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